What's the news?
One thing conspicuous by its absence from yesterday's McLaren P1 performance information was mention of a Nürburgring lap time. To most buyers the time is inconsequential but it does allow a manufacturer to thumb its nose at rivals in the way that Porsche has done since the 918 became the first road car to register a sub-seven-minute lap of the 22-mile long Nordschleife.
Well if the latest internet rumours are true then McLaren can forget about thumbing its nose at Porsche and Ferrari; it can drop its trousers and moon them, as it has been suggested that the P1 has recorded a 6-minute 47-second lap - a full ten seconds quicker than the hyper Porsche.
The record is speculation at the moment and McLaren is remaining tight lipped about whether or not it has achieved the time, but it is known that the P1 is at the Nürburgring for 'evaluation' purposes (and so handily located spy photographers can catch a picture). If the time is right (and there are suggestions that quicker is possible) then the P1 would not just become the fastest production car around the Ring, but the fastest car overall, beating the time of the Radical SR8LM and even the track-only Pagani Zonda R.
Anything else?
Also unconfirmed are reports that Porsche driver Walter Röhrl has been woken from his winter hibernation and that the Ferrari LaFerrari will drop the 'La' from its name as the extra badging could hinder its lap time...
Paul Healy - 22 Oct 2013